Electric-heated steering-rim.



R. S. SMITH. ELECTRIC HEATED STEERING RIM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1912. v

Patented May 27, 1913.

l nvr entor a I a I f i lfl l l T A "i J jZeMe/z Attorneys 1 heel-Z 407wm it may co ziccira REUBEN s. SMITH, on M RSHAL TEXAS.

ELECTRIGI-IEATED STEERING-RIM.

'Be'itknown that le'linonnx S. SMITH,

a citizen of the United-L States, residing at Marshall, in the county ofHarrison and State otTeXas, have invented a new and useful Electric-Heated Steering- Rim, :Qf

which the following is a specificatlon.

The device herein disclosed-is an electric heatingelement adapted to bemounted in the steering wheel ofa vehicle,.tor the-purpose of warmingthe steering Wheel.

The invention aims to provide a novel form of electric heating elementadaptedto be mounted in a steering wheel, andtopr'o v idenovel means forcontrolling the current supply,to the heating element. I

liith the foregoing andother olnects n view, whichavill appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in thecornhination andarrangcmei-it of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the lIlYGlltlOIl herein disclosed can be made Within thescope of What is claimed Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the draivings-Figure 1 shows in plan, a steering wheel to Which thepresent invention has been applied, parts'lieing broken aivay; Fig. 2 isa tragmental elevation show;-

. ing the contact between the wheel and the steering post; Fig." 3 is atransverse section,

on the line 3- of Fig. l; and Figs. 1 and 5 are diagrams, ilhlstratingthe Wiring, Fig.-

being a modification. The steering wheel is denoted generally by theletter W, and comprises cooperating,

annular trougli-lilce pa ls 1, connected by like securing elements, the.

screws 2 or screws 2 being surrouiuled by insulating jackets E2. Thewheel lV is carried. as usual, by the steering tube or po t DisposedWithin the wheel d a. core -32 which is fashioned from some materialwhich will conduct heat, to the end tl at there may be within the wheela member which will store heat and il1l )\\"(1t1l.' the same for aconsiderable time at'tcr the current has been turned oil, or should thecurrent fail. The core 1, it desired, may be fashioned from metal. Itthe core e is fashioned from metal, the same is surrounded by aninsulating jacketv 5, and about the jacket 5 is placed a heating element6 which I Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Illlay 27, 1913'.

Application filed August 14:, 1912. Serial No; 715,098.-

may be of any form. Preferably,although not necessarily, the heatingelement 6 is in the form of a coil of Wire, fashioned from Germansilver, or other substance having a high resistance. Surrounding theheating element 6 and insulating the sainefrom the parts 1 of the vvheelis a jacket 7.

The connecting elements 2 which hold.

the parts 1 ot-the Wheel 1V t gether pass through the core 1, throughthe jackets 5 and-7, and through the element =6, the insulating sleevesQtserving to-insul'ate the connecting elements 2 from the parts 1 ot-thesteering wheel, from the core 4-, when the same is fashioned frommetal.and from the wire 1, short circuiting being thereby avoided.Obviously, the members 2 not only.

hold the parts 1 of, the wheel 1V together,

but also prevent the heating elenienugenerally considered, from movinguithin the Wheel. r

One terminal of the element 6 is denoted by the numeral 8, and by meansof a conductor 9, the terminal 8 is connected with an angular contactplate 10 seci'ired to the Wheel W and bearing yieldingly against a ring11 supported by an insulating collar 12 which issecured to the tube 3. Acon ductor 1% leads from the ring 11 to a source of current 15, thesource being, if desired, grounded, as indicated at 16. A rheostat 17may be interposed in the conductor 14, and a switch 18 may also beinterposed therein.

From the other terminal 19 of the heating interposed a contact plate 10,a ring 11 and a collar 12*, (it the sort hereinbetore described. itsvvill be understood readily, when the switch 18 is closed, a circuitwill be established through the heating element 6, the tenipe 'ature ofthe core t and ot' the parts 1 of the steering Wheel lV being raised,due to the resistance of the heating ele ment 6. i i

In Fig. 5, a slight inodilication is shown. The heating same having endterminals 21 and 22. In} t-Jl'PUSQCl in the heating element areintermediate terminals 23, 23 and 23 dividing the heating element intosegments 24, 25, 26 and 27. From the intermediate terminal 23 aconductor 28 leads to a contact terminal From the intermediate terminal23, a conductor 30 leads to another contact terments 24 and 25. restsupon the terminal 33, current will flow minal From the intermediateterminal 23*, a conductor 32 leads to a contact terminal 33. From oneend terminal 22, a conductor 34: leadsto a contact terminal 35.

=' From the end terminal 21, a conductor 36 leads to asource of currentsupply 37-, and from. the source of current supply a conductor 38 leadsto a switch blade 39, adapted to move over the contact terminals 29, 31,33 and 35. upon the contact terminal 29', the current will flow throughthe segment- 24 only. When the switch blade 39 rests upon the terminal31, current will flow through the seg- Vhen the switch blade 39 throughthe segments 26, 25 and 24. When the switch blade 39 rests upon theterminal 35, current will flow through the segments 27, 26, 25 and 24,the circuits, in all of the cases above mentioned, being completedthrough the end terminal 21 and the conductor 36.

- It will be clear from the foregoing description of Fig. 5 that it lieswithin the power of the operator to throw in one or more of the segmentsof the heating element, thereby regulating the temperature.

The switches and the rheostat may be 10- cated at any suitable orconvenient points withineasy reach of the operator.

When the switch blade 39 rests scribed, comprising a pair of annular,

trough-like members; a metallic core therein; an insulating jacketsurrounding the core; a reslst'ance element surrounding the JZLCkQt; annsulating acket surrounding the resistance element; a securing elementconnecting the trough-like members and ex tended through both jackets,through the. resistanceelement and through the core; and an insulatingmember surrounding the securing element to space the same electricallyfrom the trough-like members, and from the core.

lnfiestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN. s. SMITH.

' Witnesses V. Z. Rams, HOWARD HAMILTON.

